While I agree that more communication would be a good thing from LH Labs (and the have gotten better at this - for example the update on the Geek Wave sent out this morning to backers), you have to remember that they are operating (purposefully) totally different from most other electronics companies out there. The whole concept of the crowd-funding/crowd-development model of LH Labs products is that the community both helps to fund the R&D and also provide input on the development of the products. This is not Apple or Sony, nor even Audeze or Schiit, but some people are still holding them up to some of the similar standards of those different operating models.
I absolutely love that Larry brought the PCB with the Geek Wave/Stream analog and DAC sections to RMAF, even if it was attached to a piece of cardboard. I got to play with it and give some feedback and talk directly with the designer - it's like being allowed into the top-secret labs. And Gavin and Larry and the rest of the team authentically want our feedback and input. Regarding the Pulse, the units I got to experience were great, but I also love that Larry wanted to take the recent feedback and make them even better, even if it means pushing out the shipment dates again.
I also love that LH Labs continues to innovate and drive the whole community forward. The Geek Keep was amazing, and that was just an early prototype. Now I do agree that I hope they don't get overly distracted by too many efforts, but don't lose momentum either.
I have yet to be part of a crowd-funding campaign (and I've done about half a dozen) where they came anywhere close to the initial shipment dates suggested during the campaign - that's part of the risk of being a member of the "crowd". If you don't want to have these types of issues (product development and manufacturing is hard and almost always faces delays) then don't participate in crowd-funding initiatives - go buy something off the shelf. And heck, even some companies who are operating under the standard "internal development" model have been facing product delays and bringing unfinished prototypes to shows, even some of the names included very recently in this very thread.
I know I'll likely get flamed for this post, but it really seems like some are holding LH Labs (and other crowd-funded companies) to an unreasonable standard. Okay, I'm off my soapbox now - flame away.
Cheers
